Three Lions hero Jordan Pickford has said England can create its own history and go all the way this World Cup as his squad prepare for the team’s first semi-final in 28 years.
England will face Croatia at 7pm on Wednesday in Moscow after the most expensive goalkeeper in British footballing history stopped Sweden scoring a single goal yesterday.
The 24-year-old man-of-the-match says his team is ready to earn its place in history following today’s 2-0 win in Samara, Russia.
‘I wasn’t born the last time England reached a World Cup semi-final,’ he told the BBC. ‘We have always said we would take one game at a time and we can go on and create our own history.’
Captain Harry Kane echoed his ambition and said he and his men were determined to make fans back home proud.
‘We know there is a big game ahead with the semi-final but we are feeling good and we’re confident,’ he said. ‘We just have to go again. We are enjoying it and we’ve got keep doing what we are doing and make the country proud.’
Coach Gareth Southgate said it was an ‘incredible feeling’ to lead the side into their first semi-final since 1990 after Dele Alli and Harry Maguire netted a goal each against Sweden.
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Jordan Pickford says England can make history this World Cup after the Three Lions beat Sweden 2-0 in yesterday’s quarter-finals
Harry Kane will lead his men into the semi-finals against Croatia after Russia was knocked out of the World Cup shortly after England’s victory
Dele Alli rises above the Swedish defence to score England’s second header against Sweden in the quarter final clash
Go on, Dele! The England midfielder prepares to head the ball to the back of the net to put the Three Lions 2-0 up
The Three Lions took first blood in the fixture courtesy of Harry Maguire, rising highest on the half hour mark to meet an Ashley Young corner and send the ball crashing into the back of the net.
After surviving an early scare in the second half, England soon had their second, with Dele Alli heading home Jesse Lingard’s first-time, curling cross. Gareth Southgate and his men will now take on Croatia on Wednesday at 7pm.
The win sent shockwaves through the UK as 32 million England fans exploded with joy after watching the Three Lions make it through to the semi-final of a World Cup for the first time since 1990.
England’s date with destiny got off to a dream start after centre back Harry Maguire scored a header to put England 1-0 up at the 30 minute mark
The 25-year-old defender’s first goal at international level helped send his country through to the semis for the first time in three decades
Beers were thrown, shirts ripped off and flags waved as jubilant fans went wild when the final whistle was blown and England’s fate was sealed.
Defender Kieran Trippier – who has created 12 chances for England this World Cup – was praised by his father Chris after the final whistle.
He told MailOnline: ‘I’m so proud of my son, now he’s in the World Cup semi-final. I used to watch him play in a park in Bury, England are going to win.’
Kensington Palace congratulated the team on its most successful World Cup in almost three decades, telling Harry Kane’s squad they are ‘making history’ and echoing chants of ‘football’s coming home’ heard across the country this afternoon.
It came after The Bands of the Guards Division played a version of ‘Three Lions – It’s Coming Home’ on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace yesterday.
Victorious exit: The England team leaves Samara after progressing to their first semi-final in 28 years following their win against Sweden today
Gareth Southgate leaves the stadium with ‘job done’ after the Three Lions beat Sweden to head into the semi-finals of Russia’s World Cup
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson signing balls at the airport as they leave Samara following their win over Sweden today
Sliding into the semis! Maguire celebrates with John Stones after scoring a goal that put England through to the semi-finals against the winner of tonight’s game between Russia and Croatia
Moments after Alli’s goal, Jordan Pickford pulled off a superb save to deny Sweden hitting back with a rapid response
We did it boys! England manager Gareth Southgate screams for joy as his team sail through to the World Cup semi finals
Captain Harry Kane celebrates with his friends and family following his side’s victory in the quarter final against Sweden in Samara today
Harry Kane celebrates today’s England victory with family and friends as he leads the national squad to the semi-finals in Russia’s World Cup
Jordan Henderson of England celebrates with his family after the Three Lions beat Sweden to progress to the semi-finals in Russia’s World Cup
After some spectacular saves against Sweden that helped take the Three Lions to the semi-finals, Jordan Pickford is awarded Man of the Match in Samara
Jordan Pickford’s girlfriend Megan Davison meets Sebastian Larsson’s wife and the pair share a hug in the stands at the end of the game
Henderson spends time with his children after bagging a spot in the semi-finals by beating Sweden in Samara, Russia, this afternoon
Gary Cahill of England celebrates with his wife, Gemma Acton, as the Three Lions look forward to the semi-finals in their best World Cup for 12 years
England captain Harry Kane celebrates his team’s victory against Sweden today by signing autographs with fans in Samara, Russia this afternoon
An excited young England fan holds up a ‘It’s Coming Home’ placard. Millions of fans back home sang the lyrics into the early hours of Sunday morning
Kyle Walker, Fabian Delph, Danny Rose and Raheem Sterling of England in the changing room after beating Sweden 2-0 in the quarter-finals
Jordan Henderson of England celebrates with his family following quarter-final victory over Sweden as the Three Lions look ahead to the semi-finals
The people’s captain: Members of the world’s media swarm around Harry Kane who threw his armband into the crowd
Captain Kane: Team leader Harry Kane is pictured throwing his captain band into the crowd as media surround him in Samara
That’s my boy! England manager Gareth Southgate hugs midfielder Dele Alli after nodding in the second header of the match
Manager Gareth Southgate embraces Harry Maguire after one of his goals saw England through to the semis
England defender Kyle Walker gives elated England something to remember as he hands over his shirt as a memento to travelling fans
Emotional scenes: England’s manager Gareth Southgate embraces another member of the coaching team after goal No 2
Leaders: Captain Harry Kane and Gareth Southgate are pictured walking off the pitch as they celebrate
Jumping for joy! England’s Ashley Young leaps onto one of the backroom staff as the reality of England’s win sinks in
The proudest girlfriend in the World… Cup! Dele Alli’s partner Ruby Mae is pictured after his header against Sweden in Samara
Ecstatic: Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s girlfriend Megan Davison celebrates England’s quarter-final goal
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was England’s hero in the penalty shoot-out win against Colombia and his girlfriend, Megan Davison, was spotted celebrating in the stands
She looked excited ahead of the game and Rebekah Vardy, the wife of Leicester striker Jamie, could be seen taking selfies with her children in the background
From left to right: Nicky Pike, wife of Ashley Young, Annabel Peyton, partner of England’s Jack Butland and Rebekah Vardy, wife of Jamie Vardy ahead of the game
It’s coming home! An England fan holds up a replica World Cup trophy as supporters in the Samara Arena celebrate the final whistle
We did it! England fans cheer from the stands of the Samara stadium after the full time whistle blew with a score of 2-0
A Gareth Southgate lookalike poses with England supporters in Samara, Russia, after the Three Lions beat Sweden to progress to the semi-finals
It’s coming home! England fans jump for joy after the full time whistle in Samara, Russia as the Three Lions go through
England fans in Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium hurl beer in the air the moment Deli Alli scores England’s second goal
England fans in Croydon’s Boxpark go wild as Deli Alli heads home second goal after Harry Maguire headed in the first
Now it’s TWO! England fans scream with joy as Deli Alli heads home Three Lions’ second goal against Sweden in World Cup
England fans go wild as they see Dele Alli head home ball while watching on giant screen at London’s Wireless festival
England supporters climbed on top of a bus in Manchester after the final whistle today as celebrations got wild back home
Fervent fans got shirtless as they sang songs and chanted on top of the First bus in Manchester’s city centre
Three Lions fans are showered with beer as England’s first goal in the World Cup clash with Sweden smashes home
The moment England fans in Flat Iron Square, London believe World Cup glory could be theirs as Three Lions scored again
England fans celebrate Dele Alli’s goal on the second half while watching World Cup quarter-final in London’s Flat Iron Square
England fans in the Spark bar in York cheer as Three Lions score second goal in Sweden World Cup clash
Come on England! The crowd goes wild at the Samara stadium as supporters watch Dele Alli take England 2-0 up
YEESSSSS! Three Lions fans in London explode with joy as Harry Maguire heads home England’s first goal in quarter-final
Beer rockets into the skies in Bristol as Three Lions fans cheer with pride after Harry Maguire scores first goal in Sweden clash
The Three Lions: England players pose for a squad photo minutes before kick off. In the starting line up (from top left) Kyle Walker, Ashley Young, John Stones, Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire, Dele Alli, Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Jesse Lingard and Raheem Sterling
The Swedes (in yellow) wore their home kit while England came out in their away colours in the third quarter-final of the tournament so far